announces new sanctions against russia. we're live on the ground with the very latest, next. >>> welcome back. we're following breaking news. more deadly tornadoes striking the south overnight. twisters on the ground in alabama, mississippi, tennessee, leaving at least 13 people dead, that on top of the 16 killed in arkansas, oklahoma and iowa. officials warn the death toll likely to rise as rescuers get a closer look at this extensive damage. stay with us for the very latest. more here on cnn. >> yeah, we'll stay on that all morning. >>> meanwhile, eastern ukraine closer to the breaking point after rallies in donetsk. they were set upon by separatists with clubs and whips, reportedly declaring this place is russia. this came just hours after the u.s. placed new sanctions against some of vladimir putin's closest allies in an effort to de-escalate the crisis, but moscow says this will only make things worse. senior international correspondent nick paton walsh live in slovyansk, ukraine, this morning. nick, give us a sense of